Collins and his wife LisaIt was always a dream of mine to run a Children’s Home (or as it is often called: an orphanage). I believe the main reason for this was because of my surroundings growing up. As a child, I lived in an area called Dandora, which was surrounded by many slums. In passing through them, from time to time, it was clear to me how much the children suffered. I felt so bad for them, and that, more than anything, moved me to want to help one day.
Time passed and I grew older. But still, I had a deep desire to help suffering children. Once while visiting my grandmother’s home, I was hungry and asked if I could get something eat. She said, “yes.” However, when I went to find something to eat, there was no food. I assumed an animal, perhaps a rodent, had gotten to my grandmother’s food, so I laid a trap. Several days later, I crept into my grandmother’s kitchen as I heard a rustling that I assumed was a rodent. To my surprise, I found a small, malnourished boy, with jiggers (a small bug that burrows into the skin) on his palms, elbows, knees, and feet. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and my heart sank. My only thought was how could I help this boy.
Fortunately, the boy was treated, but I wanted to do more. So, I started my own volunteer jigger treatment program. Initially, I was able to get six young people from the community to assist, and we started treating two families daily with only 100 milliliters of hydrogen peroxide. In time, we spoke with the local Public Health Department, and they committed to contributing five liters of hydrogen peroxide every two weeks. In our search to help families infested with jiggers, we came across a five-year-old girl named Eunice. She, too, was malnourished and couldn’t stand or walk. I spoke with the local administration regarding Eunice’s condition, and asked if I could take her with me to nurse her back to health. At that time, I named my Children’s Assistance Program, “Good Heart Foundation” and met someone who would become a much needed ally and benefactor, Sabine Kapell.
With the approval of the local administration and Eunice’s family, I was able to take Eunice back to my home to get her jigger treatment, food, and medical attention. It was a bittersweet circumstance, because while I was able to help this child in desperate need, the six young people that had been helping me decided to leave the volunteer jigger treatment program I was running. However, my newfound friend, Sabine Kapell, stayed with me during this arduous time. Even just the journey back to my home with Eunice was challenging. Communication between Eunice and I was difficult at times, because our dialects differed; and the weather during the rainy season slowed our travels. Upon reaching my home, there were those that felt bringing Eunice back was a mistake. Even my owngrandmother asked, “Why do you bring death to our home?” And, it was true, Eunice was in bad shape. But, I was determined to help her. Shortly thereafter, I was able to get Eunice to a clinic where she was treated by professional nurses. On some of my visits to the clinic, Sabine Kapell accompanied me.
In time, Sabine had to return home to Germany. However, she didn’t forget me, Eunice, or the Good Heart Foundation. Once home, she reached out to me, and after speaking with her mother, Sylvia Kapell, they began donating and contributing to the foundation, in order to help the children.
The second young child I was able to help was a two-year-old boy named Lawrence. When I found him, he was crying, malnourished, and suffering from an infestation of jiggers. Although two-years-old, he appeared to be a six-month-old baby, due to his size and malnutrition. His medical records also indicated that he was HIV positive. Around this time, my friend, Sabine, had been able to return from Germany and continue her hands on assistance. I was able to get Lawrence to a doctor that gave him the much needed medical attention he required, and much to my surprise, the doctor informed me that Lawrence was not HIV positive. Hearing this directly from a doctor capable of performing this test made so incredibly happy. Even though at first, I was faced with severe opposition from others in regard to helping Lawrence, including local men from the village armed with machetes, soon I had the support of the area’s Assistant Chief and a Village Elder.
I’m happy to say, both Eunice and Lawrence made a full recovery and have grown to be healthy, happy, and clean children. Eventually the Good Heart Foundation grew into the Little Prinz Children’s Home and Academy as the local government heard of our work and begin referring more children to us for care. Throughout all the ups and downs, good times and bad, trials and smiles, I am so thankful for those who have helped along the way like Sabine and Sylvia Kapell. Also, I am thankful for those who have stood beside me throughout the years like my mother, Jessica, my sister, Judy, my brother, Bramwel, and the rest of my family who have joined me in supporting this dream.
—Collins Lumumba